Buying guide for Best iPhone X screen protectors
The key to a long-lasting iPhone X is equipping it with a quality screen protector, which is a layer of specialized plastic, film, or glass that protects your phone’s screen from damage. At a minimum, they’re designed to prevent smudges and guard against minor scratches. Some offer extra levels of protection against dirt, water, and heavy impact. Most are easy to install.
There are a few factors to consider before purchasing a screen protector. For starters, the type of protective material the product is made from determines just how much protection you should expect. There are varying levels of screen protector thicknesses, and some products offer multiple pieces of protective film in one package. The design may also factor into your final decision, as some protectors cover more screen real estate than others.
There are currently a few different versions of the iPhone X on the market (the iPhone X, XS, XS Max, and XR). You should only use screen protectors designed for the iPhone X. Keep in mind that the unique product features will still apply for other iPhone X models as long as the brand remains the same and they provide a protector made for that model.
Make sure you only apply a screen protector to an uncracked and thoroughly cleaned screen.
Key considerations
To choose the iPhone X screen protector that will work best for you, there are a few things you'll want to consider:
Type
PET (polyethylene terephthalate): This type of protective material uses a polyester film to provide basic protection from mild scratches. It’s inexpensive and works as a great guard against scratches from fingernails, keys, and coins. Typically, PET protectors don’t have the smoothest feel and may become discolored over time from the sun and elements. This is why they are usually the least-expensive screen protectors.
TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane): TPU protectors are made from chemically enhanced plastic to provide scratch resistance, oil and grease resistance, increased toughness, and extra elasticity. The additional elasticity makes it much more effective against drops and scratches.
Tempered glass: This type of screen protector is the most popular. They’re typically made up of multiple layers: an impact-absorbent silicone film makes up the first layer, and there is a layer of PET film on top of that. The actual tempered glass is layered next, followed by an oil- and smudge-resistant coating. Though tempered glass protectors are multilayered, they’re usually very thin, making them the perfect combination of durability and aesthetics.
Thickness
Many users may not care about how thick their screen protector is, as long as it's doing its job. It is still important to note that the thickness of your protector will play a slight role in overall durability as well as appearance. Thick material is generally more durable. Also, the thicker the plastic, film, or glass, the more raised it will be from the phone’s screen. This may be more noticeable if your phone isn’t in a case.
Quantity
Some products come packaged with more than one screen protector. This way, if your phone’s protective screen suffers any serious damage, you can easily replace it with another without having to make a new purchase.
Design
You’ll want to consider how your screen protector looks when it’s installed on your phone. As mentioned, the thicker the film, the more it will protrude from the phone's surface. Some protectors have an edgeless design and are made to fit the entire front of your iPhone X perfectly. These protectors will have cutouts for the front camera and speaker. Other protectors may not be as precisely designed and simply leave a small space at the top for the camera and speakers.
Features
Screen protectors for the iPhone X boast essential features to keep your phone clean, safe, and functional.
Scratch and impact protection
Most screen protectors, even the most inexpensive ones, offer basic scratch protection. Tempered glass offers the most impact protection and, generally speaking, the thicker the film, the more protection from scratches and heavy impact.
Smudge resistance
TPU and tempered-glass screen protectors do the best job at keeping your phone’s screen clear of fingerprints and smudges. This is mainly done through oleophobic coating. This coating keeps the grease under control by not allowing it to stick to the protector and making it easy to wipe away.
Installation kits
Some screen protectors include an installation kit. These kits are meant to provide a safe and foolproof way to adhere your protector to your phone neatly and without any unwanted air bubbles between the phone’s screen and the protective film.
Did you know?
Pairing your iPhone with a tough case and a durable screen protector will increase its lifespan tremendously and is highly recommended. In fact, some phone cases actually come with screen protectors built in.
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iPhone X screen protector prices
Inexpensive
If you’re looking for a simple solution to protect your iPhone screen, you can easily find one for less than $10. Screen protectors in this range will typically be PET protectors and only guard your phone against mild scratches. Even though you’re likely limited to basic protection, many brands in this range provide packs of two or three.
Mid-range
Tempered-glass and TPU screen protectors are typically found in the $10 to $25 range, especially if they come in packs of two or three. These products will offer you scratch protection, impact resistance, and limit smudges.
Expensive
In the $25 to $50 range, high-end screen protectors provide all of the basic protection features you can expect from mid-level products and then some. More expensive screen protectors are made from the most durable materials on the market, and they also manage to be the thinnest.
Tips
Even if you’ve armed your phone with a high-quality screen protector, you still may have to give it a good cleaning every now and then. Here are a few tips.
- Use strips of tape to clean the sticky or adhesive part of your screen protector. Do this by layering strips of tape across the screen protector and lightly peeling them off to remove the dust. Do this until you have peeled off tape from all areas that have dust. Then, reapply to your phone.
- Use a microfiber cloth to clean the non-adhesive part of your screen protector.
- Household glass cleaners also do a great job of cleaning screen protectors, but if you go this route, apply it sparingly so excess moisture doesn’t reach your phone’s interior. It’s best to apply the cleaner to a soft cloth first rather than spray it directly onto the screen.
If you drop your phone and crack the screen protector, don’t fret! That’s what they are for. Simply remove the broken screen protector. Chances are you’ll discover the original screen underneath, good as new. Just don’t forget to add a new screen protector before the next accident.
FAQ
Q. How do I remove the screen protector if necessary?
A. Most screen protectors are easy to remove. Use your fingernails to pry the edge of the screen off; you should be able to slowly pull the protector away without leaving any adhesive residue.
Q. Will a screen protector affect how my phone case fits?
A. Most screen protectors are thin enough to work just fine with any phone case. Be sure to remove the phone from the case before applying the screen protector.
Q. Does having a screen protector affect touchscreen performance?
A. No. Users of a quality screen protector shouldn’t see any dip in the touchscreen’s performance, facial recognition, or fingerprint scanner.
